Poisoned From Within

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter Three

Mamoru and the others entered Café Crown and sat down. Fortunately their favorite grouping of chairs was unoccupied. The place used to be an arcade but had been losing business because of the popularity of home gaming consoles. His friend Motoki who ran the café confided to him that his mother practically had to beat his father with a baseball bat to get him to close the arcade that had been steadily losing money for years.

The arcade closed and after an extensive remodel, the upscale café opened. It catered mostly to college students and business people. Coffee and tea were the drinks primarily served. Muffins, croissants and desserts were the menu staple but they sold just as many gourmet sandwiches.

Motoki came over smiling with a tray of mugs in one hand and pot of coffee in the other. He greeted the group cheerfully as they grabbed mugs and he filled them with the 'Drink of Life.'

"Saw the fight yesterday. Looked like it was pretty bad." Said Motoki in a low voice. He had discovered Mamoru's secret identity when he had walked into Mamoru's apartment just in time to see him release his transformation. Motoki later told them that he was glad that Mamoru didn't transform naked like an anime Magical Girl because he liked being able to see.

Jun saluted Motoki with his mug. "It was. They weren't even after anything specific. They were just there to wreck havoc."

Motoki shook his head. "You would think that after three years, they would come out and say what they want."

Soichiro snorted into his mug. "Have you ever known a woman to know what she actually wants?"

Kazuya set his mug down on a nearby table. "Ignore him. He's pissed because his lab partner screwed up their project."

Soichiro glared and began ranting with Nobuyuki and Jun egging him on. Motoki started backing up claiming customers as a reason to get away.

Mamoru tuned out Soichiro and took a look around the café as he sipped his coffee. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of gold. When he turned to get a good look, he saw that the gold was the hair of a woman. It was tightly braided into a thick rope that hung to the middle of her back. He gazed with admiration at the long slender legs that were shown to perfection in the short skirt of the black dress that was the female uniform of Café Crown.

"Motoki, who's that?"

Motoki turned to look. "Oh, she's new. Started yesterday. Apparently she's trying to support a younger brother who has something wrong physically."

Something shivered its way down Mamoru's spine. "What's her name?"

"Oh. It's Usagi. Tsukino Usagi."

888888

Usagi laughed at the joke told by the businessmen and promised to bring their order soon. She walked away and gave the order to the chef. She felt someone staring and she turned. There was a man with dark hair and dark eyes staring at her. She could see the shocked look on his face and wondered what brought that on.

888888

Mamoru was glad that he was sitting down. And not holding his coffee mug, otherwise it would have been a shattered mess across the floor.

"Mamoru? What's wrong?" came Kazuya's anxious voice.

He turned and saw that all four men where staring at him, worry written across all of their faces. He took a deep breath. "Look over my right shoulder. The new waitress."

They turned and looked. Then looked back at him.

"Fuck me!" breathed Jun. He slumped back in his chair

"Well, that's eloquent enough." Snapped Soichiro as he began to tug at his ponytail.

Nobuyuki took another look. He shook his head. "Its just coincidence, Mamoru. That's all it is."

Kazuya looked at Mamoru. He'd been able to read Mamoru's body language since he was a very young Endymion. "You've met her."

"I think so." Admitted Mamoru. "Last night I ended up at a church and I may have…no, I did make her angry." He told them what had happened.

Jun shook his head in disgust. "And I thought we had taught you better." He looked at the new waitress again, turned back and looked at Mamoru. "It's not possible that it's her. We've seen other people who have looked like people we once knew, but they didn't know us."

Soichiro spoke thoughtfully. "It took us a while for our memories to come back. Who's to say that it wouldn't take others a long time to regain theirs…if ever."

"But you can't say that she not…that she not Serenity." Mamoru's eyes begged.

Kazuya placed his hand on the younger man's arm. "Don't get your hopes up. Please. I don't want you to be hurt."

Nobuyuki looked over. "She's coming!" he hissed.

Usagi walked over and smiled at the group. "Hello, my name is Usagi and I'll be your waitress today. Have you decided on what you wanted to order?"

"Croissants."

"Cinnamon apple muffins."

"Brownie."

"Bagel. Plain."

"Do you have any blueberry muffins left?" asked Mamoru.

Usagi smiled. "I think it's illegal NOT to have blueberry muffins."

"Then I'll certainly have one."

"Bring lots of butter, please and some plain cream cheese for the ascetic there." Kazuya glared at Soichiro.

"I'll bring your orders right away."

"Wait." Mamoru gently laid his hand on her arm. He didn't want to frighten her. "I think we met last night. I'm Mamoru the jackass."

Usagi's blue eyes widened. "Oh! Yes we did meet last night." She smiled shyly. "But you aren't a jackass. Jackasses don't usually apologize."

Mamoru huffed a small laugh. "No, I guess they don't."

Usagi smiled and nodded. She turned to walk away but the door to the café open and a teenage boy with sandy blond hair wearing a school uniform walked in. He walked somewhat awkwardly.

Behind him came two other teenage boys wearing the school uniform. "Running away, gimp? You're not going to get away from us, gimp."

"Yeah, gimp! You can't hide from us, gimpo!"

Mamoru could see that Usagi was extremely upset. He put two and two together and realized that the first boy was her brother who had lost his leg. But before he could do anything, Motoki did.

"Get out!"

"What?"

"Get out. You are not welcome here."

"You can't make us leave!"

"I am the manager here and I have the right to refuse service. Now get out or I'll call the police."

The boys stared at him. It was obvious that they were working themselves up for a fight. Mamoru and the others rose to their feet. The boys looked at the five men who were much taller than they were, turned and ran out the door.

"Shingo, what is going on?" Usagi's voice showed her anguish and anxiety.

"Nothing." Came the less than helpful reply.

"It can't be nothing, Shingo! They were calling you names!"

"I'll handle it." Snapped the boy. "I don't want you getting involved!"

Usagi bit her lip. "Well, if you're sure." She walked over and hugged him, ignoring the face he made. "Sit down. I'll get you something in a moment." She walked over to the counter where Motoki was and bowed, obviously apologizing for the commotion.

Mamoru watched as Shingo softly but angrily pounded his fist on the chair.

Usagi delivered the order of the two businessmen then went back to the counter and filled up another tray. As she walked towards Mamoru's group, she dropped off a drink and muffin at her brother's table.

She approached the group, smiling. But it was a shadowed smile. She began handing out the orders to the group.

Mamoru contented himself with looking at her and he noticed her necklace that had swung into view since she was bending over. It had four stones that had been cut and faceted into a teardrop shape and he recognized each type: garnet, aquamarine, yellow topaz and amethyst. "Pretty necklace. Unusual stones to have together."

Usagi straighten, her empty tray in one hand, she touched the necklace with the other. "It is different. But I like it."

"Where did you get it?" Mamoru asked.

Her eyes became sad. "My parents gave it to me for my sixteenth birthday."

Mamoru cursed himself as she walked away to help someone else. He felt like he was constantly stuffing his foot in his mouth around her.